Prince Folorunsho Adegoke is a media professional and journalist with experience in digital, television and print journalism. He covers Nigerian affairs, African development, international relations, housing and economic issues.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally appealed his terrorism conviction and life imprisonment imposed by the Federal High Court.
Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed the development on Wednesday through his verified X account, stating that the IPOB leader personally filed the appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho had earlier convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related counts, including alleged incitement, unlawful broadcasting and the importation of a radio transmitter.
Following the conviction, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
According to the defence team, the notice of appeal contains 22 grounds challenging the verdict. The lawyers argue that the trial was marred by significant procedural and legal irregularities.
They explained that the appeal grounds were selected from a broader legal review that identified multiple alleged defects in the trial process but were streamlined to comply with appellate court rules.
Among the issues raised is the trial court’s handling of events following the 2017 military operation at Kanu’s residence.
The defence maintains that the operation forced him to flee the country, an issue they say was not properly addressed during the proceedings.
The appeal also alleges violations of constitutional fair-hearing provisions. Specifically, the defence claims that some preliminary objections were not resolved and that judgment was delivered without allowing the defence to submit its final written address.
The Court of Appeal is expected to determine whether the trial court’s decision should be upheld or set aside.
